Bi-directional digital interface between Lims and mass spectrometry software promotes compliance with Good Laboratory Practice standards and 21 CFR Part 11 electronic records keeping regulations
Thermo Electron announces the introduction of a new bi-directional digital interface between its Watson laboratory information management system (Lims) and Xcalibur mass spectrometry (MS) software to promote compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards and 21 CFR Part 11 electronic records keeping regulations.
The interface is one of the highlights of the new Watson version 7.2 "The bi-directional digital interface ensures the rapid and secure transfer of analytical run information directly from Watson to Xcalibur and the return of results back to Watson without an intermediate file," said Joel Usansky, product manager for Watson Lims.
"Traditional file-based interfaces involve importing a Lims-generated sequence file into an instrument control software system like Xcalibur, and then a results file back into a Lims.
That means text files have the potential to be lost, misplaced or changed, which exposes a laboratory to possible non-compliance with GLP or 21 CFR Part 11 regulations.
"Seamlessly integrating Thermo software solutions eliminates the need to import text files, and therefore promotes compliance and improves laboratory efficiency".
The Watson Lims-Xcalibur integration is enabled through an XML-based instrument gateway, which facilitates data transfer between the Lims and the MS instrument control software.
The Watson 7.2 release, developed to support Oracle 10g, includes numerous enhancements, including study sign-off, custom study fields, and analysis of solutions and preparations.
Watson is specifically designed to support drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic (DMPK) studies in drug development.
The system communicates with external software from instruments such as LC/MS, ICP-MS, HPLC and other systems via file-based and digital interfaces.
The Xcalibur software is a flexible Windows-based data system, providing instrument control and data analysis for the entire family of Thermo's mass spectrometers including the Finnigan TSQ Quantum triple quadrupole mass spectrometer series.
Xcalibur enables quick, efficient acquisition and processing of data as well as results delivery.
